Placeholder while loading article actions
Republicans in the Senate on Thursday blocked a bill aimed at focusing the federal government on the fight against internal terrorism, which was the first opportunity for Congress to pass legislation in response to recent mass shootings.
Voting was 47 to 47, below the 60-vote threshold to advance the measure.
Democrats moved the House Terrorism Prevention Act to the House last week and to the Senate this week in response to the May 14 murder of a mostly black Buffalo supermarket by a gunman who authorities say he defended white supremacy.
Now, with Tuesday’s massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, front and center, Senate Democrats introduced domestic terrorism legislation as the House’s first chance to do anything, anything, for fight the scourge of mass shootings in the United States. However, they are not finding much, if any, Republican support.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.) said Wednesday that the bill, which was largely passed in the House by the party, is “a necessary and timely step to honor the memories of the dead in Buffalo and to make sure the mass-motivated shootings of the race don’t happen again. “
But he also said Thursday’s procedural vote was an opportunity to begin debating gun control proposals following Tuesday’s scandal at Robb Elementary School, where an 18-year-old man with a rifle ‘AR style just bought killed 19 quarters. students and two teachers.
“If Republicans can vote with us to pass this bill, we can have a debate on the consideration of common sense and strong amendments on gun security, hopefully with bipartisan support,” Schumer added. “The American people are tired of the moments of silence, tired of the kind words offered by thoughts and prayers.”
Republicans, however, not only said it was premature to debate a response to the recent mass shootings, but expressed serious suspicion about the content of the domestic terrorism bill itself. They echoed the House GOP’s concern that its provisions would lead to a “orientation” of the Conservatives by the Department of Justice, among other concerns.
The House approves an anti-terrorism bill following the Buffalo massacre
The bill requires that the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security set up specific national terrorism offices and that each agency jointly report twice a year, including specific assessments of the “threat posed by supremacists.” whites and neo-Nazis “. The bill also directs agencies to focus on infiltrating white racist groups of law enforcement agencies and corrections, as well as the military, by creating an interagency working group to do so. ho.
Advancing the bill into a debate required the support of at least 10 Republicans because of the filibuster rule of the Senate’s 60 votes. But GOP support was hard to find in the Senate this week.
Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.), A senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said earlier this week that the bill was “redundant” and would reduce “the federal government’s ability to deal flexibly.” to other forms of terrorism. “
“There is a drawback to duplication of authority and stove resources,” he said.
Asked whether white supremacy and neo-Nazism were internal threats worthy of a specific focus by Congress, Cornyn referred to the baseless justification for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “de-Nazification” for his invasion of Ukraine. .
“Mr. Putin is watching Nazis in Ukraine. I guess our fellow Democrats are focused on the Nazis in the United States, “he said.” I don’t know. It just doesn’t make sense to me. “
Another Republican, Sen. Kevin Cramer (RND) dismissed the bill as a “pure message” and “an attempt to take advantage of people’s pain.”
“I don’t see how having an extremist status makes anyone’s death more comforting or less likely,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) Noted Wednesday that the FBI itself has identified a growing domestic terrorist threat, including that of white supremacist groups, and said it was time for Congress acted.
“Time and time again, the Senate has not taken any significant steps to prevent violent extremism,” he said. “When exactly did it become a partisan issue to stop the mass murder?”
Although Thursday’s vote failed, it is not expected to be the end of Senate discussions on a possible Congressional response to Buffalo and Uvalde.
Schumer has commissioned Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) And a small group of other Democratic senators to seek a compromise with Republicans on a limited expansion of gun restrictions, reviving a search that has repeatedly failed nearly a year ago. decade in elementary school. massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, 2012. Talks continue after senators leave Washington on Thursday for a week-long Memorial Day break.
“The plan is to work hard to reach a compromise over the next 10 days,” Murphy said on Twitter on Wednesday. “Hopefully we will be successful and the Senate can vote on a life-saving bipartisan bill. But if we can’t find a common ground, we will vote on armed violence. The Senate will not ignore this crisis.”